An aspiring photographer tragically lost his life after two polar bears attacked him in Canada when he ventured too close in pursuit of a perfect shot, despite multiple warning signs.
Christopher Best, a 34-year-old resident of Labrador, had only been employed at an Arctic radar facility for two days when the incident occurred on August 8 of the previous year. Ignoring clear polar bear warnings, Best ventured beyond the safety perimeter.
While he initially kept a safe distance, he was unaware of a second polar bear hiding nearby. Earlier, he had taken photographs of the animals and requested that a wildlife monitor stationed at Brevoort Island notify him when the bears were around, eager to capture more images.
Just a day before the fatal encounter, Best shared pictures of one of the massive creatures. It remains unclear if this was one of the bears involved in the attack.
In a heartbreaking revelation, his mother, Shelly Cox, recounted to CTV News a phone conversation Best had with his stepfather shortly before the attack. Best reportedly assured, “Well, yeah, they’re not close to us,” seemingly unaware of the imminent danger.
‘Chris said, “Well, yeah, they’re not close to us,”’ his mother, Shelly Cox, said he told his stepfather on a call moments before he died, according to CTV News.
‘”God, Dad,” he said, “You know, I know the difference, right?”’
At the end of his shift, the wildlife monitor told Best that a bear was outside, according to a report by his employer, the Nasittuq Corporation.
After exiting the doors, Best went around the side of the building and believed he had enough space between himself and the bear.
Christopher Best was killed by the bears while working on Brevoort Island, Canada, last year
The 34-year-old from Labrador had left the safety of the Arctic radar site, where he had only worked for two days. This photo was taken by Best and uploaded online the day before he died
Surveillance video showed that the second animal cut off Best’s way to a nearby building and charged at him, according to the report.
The first bear then attacked the worker as well.
An employee saw the mauling and yelled for a gun; however, when nothing was available, he ran to the wildlife monitor.
That staff member fired a non-lethal bear-banger from a 12-gauge shotgun, causing both bears to take off, but one of them turned back. The gunman was forced to fatally shoot it.
As Best’s body was loaded into a truck, another armed employee arrived to keep watch.
Best had some training in polar bear awareness, but some documents to complete the course were missing, according to the report.
Best had taken some photos of a bear earlier and asked a wildlife monitor at the site to inform him when the animals were nearby so he could take more photos
He exited the North Warning System’s facility, but didn’t realize that there was a second bear nearby
Cox told CTV that she believed the accident could have been avoided if further safety measures had been taken at the site, such as installing fences and motion-sensor monitors with alarms.
The report proposed improvements to their safety policies, which included a public address system as well as announcements being made when bears were known to be outside.
In addition, it requires any worker going outside after hours to obtain permission from a manager or supervisor.
Another measure proposed was to fence off certain areas of the site.
Nasittuq had sent Best to do logistics work on Brevoort Island, but he was waiting for security clearance and was working as a fuel tank cleaner in the meantime.
Surveillance video showed that the second animal cut off Best’s way to a nearby building and charged him, according to the report. The first bear then attacked the worker as well
Best with his mother, Shelly, and his grandmother
No injuries or fatalities from bears have ever been recorded during the company’s project or the previous company, the DEW Line, over the past seven decades, according to the report.
Nasittuq said that it was unable to comment since the government report was not yet finished.
A spokesman said: ‘We care deeply for the safety and well-being of all our employees and feel for everyone who continues to be affected by this tragic incident.’
